Parliament on Thursday approved 2016/17 national budget amounting to over K1.149 trillion after a protracted committee of supply.
The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe also announced a pay increase for lower cadre civil servants.
The law makers further approved an allocation of about K8.4 billion to Malata and Cement Subsidy Program in the 2016/17 financial year.
The allocation to this subsidy has jumped from K7 billion in the just ended 2015/16 national budget. The allocation is part of the broader fund to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development amounting to about K17.6 billion.
The initial national budget was K1.41 trillion, but the figure went up following upward adjustments in allocations to the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), Department of Human Resource Management and Development (DHRMD) and the Greenbelt Authority.
NLGFC's allocation has been raised from K12 million to K18 million, DHRMD allocation has been increased by K7.7 billion while the Greenbelt Authority has gotten K300 million.
Leader of the House Dr George Chaponda hailed constructive contributions from both sides, opposition and government law-makers.
He said the passing of the budget will enable government to carry out different development projects.
Egyptian Ambassador to Malawi, Maher El-Adawy has described togetherness as an essential element for Malawi to keep developing.
Speaking on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of Egypt's June 30 revolution, the Ambassador said unity can keep a nation together citing a case of Egypt.
He said after the Arab-spring, Egypt neighbours have struggled while Egypt has stood out because the people knew what they wanted and did not allow to be dictated by the west.
"Revolution taught us to do what we wanted and not be told by outsiders. Self-dependence, a strong will of the people and no conditions attached to donor aid enabled us to recover and now become Africa's second largest economy.
"Similarly, Malawi can move forward if the citizens are united for a common goal to develop the country.
No one should interfere in the running of African countries, they can offer advice but they should not tell us what to do and how to do it," he said.
El-Adawy added that the media has an important role in promoting unity by writing positive stories about
the country.
He said while foreign media may look for negative things to write about African countries, it is the duty of local press to make good impression of the country.
Meanwhile, Information, Communications, Technology and Civic Education Minister Patricia Kaliati has said that Malawi government treasures the cooperation that exist between the two countries.
Opposition Umodzi Party (UP) President John Chisi has urged Malawi government to borrow money for this year’s Independence Day celebrations arguing that it is an important day for the country.The development follows reports that Malawi will not have the celebrations on July 6 due to financial hiccups that the country is grappling with.
Reacting on the matter, Chisi blamed government for calling off the national event arguing that the decision does not make any sense.John ChisiChisi; Made the call.“First of all this is a national event and we do have it once in a year I don’t think putting aside it makes sense, if government has no money it should go and borrow for us to celebrate,” said Chisi.He added that if government fails to provide resources for the event it should not organise any political rally in the country.When making the announcement earlier this week, Chief Secretary to the Malawi Government George Mkondiwa said there will just be a national service of worship in commemoration for the day Malawians attained self-rule from its colonial master Britain.Last year, Malawi government used K300 million for its 51st Independence Day celebrations held in Blantyre.
FIFA is planning to sponsor a football tournament for girls in secondary schools in Blantyre next month as part of its youth development programmes.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) vice president James Mwenda said FIFA has already made a commitment towards the sponsorship.
“What I know is that FIFA has agreed to sponsor girls football in secondary schools, as a pilot project will start with 12 schools around Blantyre,” he said.
FIFA will also provide equipment such as balls, boots, and uniforms in this tournament will run for six to eight months.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has commenced investigations on former President Joyce Banda in relation to US$1.2 million royalties Malawi earned from Nigerian crude oil deal and the proceeds from Presidential jet sale.
Top ACB officials have confirmed to this publication that a docket has been opened on the oil deal and Presidential jet sale, and investigations are currently underway.
Investigated- Banda
Under iInvestigations- Banda
The investigations, 
are as a result of complaints by the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) to the authorities through its executive director John Kapito.
Malawi in 2013, under Banda’s reign, earned US$1,256.081.70 as royalties from crude oil deal it signed with Nigerian government in May 2012. The oil deal was initiated by Banda’s predecessor late Bingu wa Mutharika.
Banda’s administration also battered-off controversial Presidential jet to offset a $19 million debt owed to Paramount Group.
According to information, the crude oil sale agreement spanned from May 1st, 2012 to April 30th, 2013, and the royalties were transferred into National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma)
Foreign Currency Dominated account for crude (Afcda) maintained at National Bank of Malawi.
Government was forced to contract Nocma to service the deal as an agent since it was unable to secure US$120 million required to purchase the crude oil.
Under the government-to-government deal, Nigeria agreed to supply Malawi with crude oil through the NNPC and allowed Malawi to either process or sell the crude, thus-as a buyer-after paying upfront $2.5 million (then over K1 billion) before making first uplift of the oil.
raised the complaint- Kapito
The contract gave Malawi approval to buy and sell 30 000 barrels per day of crude oil made up of several grades as specified in the lifting schedule for each month. This means that, effectively, the country was at liberty to buy and sell over half a million barrels a month.
The crude oil deal was signed by President Banda who pushed for the contract, first initiated by late Mutharika in his attempts to solve chronic fuel shortages that rocked the country under his administration.
In November 2012, Petroleos De Geneve SA Limited (PDG) managing director Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe told Malawi’s daily that Lilongwe was getting US0.4 cents in royalties per barrel, which he said totaled $760 000 (over K300 million) by then.
He said Malawi had uplifted 903, 691 barrels in August 2012 and 997, 416 in the second phase in October last year, which is nearly two million barrels.
The Dassault Falcon 900EX Presidential jet bought in 2009 cost Malawi almost $22 million, a move that angered western donors who claimed that the jet was partly bought using donor funds aimed at uplifting the impoverished citizenry.
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